Deb Haaland Secretary at U.S. Department of Interior | Official website
PLACITAS, N.M. — Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has signed Public Land Order 7940, safeguarding over 4,200 acres of Bureau of Land Management-managed public lands in the Placitas area. The final mineral withdrawal will protect the scenic integrity, cultural significance, recreational values, and wildlife habitat connectivity of the lands and the surrounding area for the next 50 years.
"Indigenous communities have called the Placitas area home since time immemorial, with evidence of their presence found from nearly every settlement period of the past 10,000 years," Secretary Deb Haaland expressed. She added, "The site contains significant cultural ties to neighboring Pueblos and provides outdoor recreation opportunities to the local community."
The protection of these lands aligns with President Biden's America the Beautiful initiative, which aims to support efforts to conserve, connect, and restore lands and waters across the nation to promote community health, local economies, and combat climate change.
The Pueblos of San Felipe and Santa Ana have long advocated for safeguarding the Placitas area, considering it ancestral and sacred. Located near the Albuquerque metro area, the site offers opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, sightseeing, and hunting.
Secretary Haaland, who previously sponsored the Buffalo Tract Protection Act as a member of Congress to safeguard the Placitas area, continues her dedication to protecting these special lands. The legislation has been reintroduced in both the House and Senate.
The process of protecting the Placitas area began in September 2023 when the Interior Department first proposed these protections. This was followed by public comment periods to gather input from interested parties and stakeholders.
For further details regarding the Placitas area withdrawal, including the analysis and final decision record, interested individuals can visit the BLM National NEPA Register.
